Centrifugal self-priming pump

ABSTRACT

A self-priming, centrifugal pump having a pump body formed of two, separate, coacting matched half shells releasably retained together by a retaining ring clamp secured by a single bolt, whereby release of such bolt enables complete disassembly of the pump body for quick, easy access to all interior pump parts. One body shell contains an easily replaceable wear plate disposed opposite the pump impeller. The pump inlet port is disposed above the impeller centerline to effect self-priming in coaction with a flap-type check valve at the inlet port. The pump body has a top access opening permitting easy access to the check valve and to the inlet eye of the impeller for quick cleanout.

Umted States Patent 1 1 [111 Coon, Jr. 1 1 Dec. 4, 1973 [5 CENTRIFUGAL SELF-PRIMING PUMP 3,247,801 4/1966 Conery 415 53 3,381,617 5/1968 Wri ht 415/197 [75] Invenm Mansfield 3,485,178 12 1969 Dutt on et al.... 415 197 Ohm 3,685,919 8/1972 Speck et a1. 415 197 [73] Assignee: Peabody Barnes lnc., Mansfield,

Ohio Primary Examinerl-lenry F. Raduazo Att S. ald t al. 22 Filed: Jan. 11, 1972 Gemge B Wm e [211 App]. No.: 217,070 I 57 ABSTRACT A self-priming, centrifugal pump having a pump body [52] US. Cl. 415/200, 415/214 f d f two, Separate, coacting matched h lf Shells [51] 7/06, F04d 9/02 releasably retained together by a retaining ring clamp [58] held of Search 415/53, 197, 201, secured by a Single bolt whereby release f Such bolt .415/200 enables complete disassembly of the pump body for quick, easy access to all interior pump parts. One References Clted body shell contains an easily replaceable wear plate UNITED STATES PATENTS disposed opposite the pump impeller. The pump inlet 2,181,792 11 1939 Rupp et al. 415/53 P is disposed above the impeller Cemefline effect 2,244,397 6/1941 415 53 -p g in coaction with, a pyp Check valve 2,580,347 12/1951 Eggleston 415/53 at the inlet port. The pump body has a top access 2,792,787 5/1957 GudmundS6n--- /5 opening permitting easy access to the check valve and 2,898,861 8/ 1959 wakeman 415/201 to the inlet eye of the impeller for quick cleanout. 3,155,045 ll/l964 Lown et a1... 415/197 3,191,535 6/1965 Davenport 415/53 1 Claim, 7 Drawing Figures '[8 48 t i 26 1 l1 I 42 7 3o i i 1 a" 12 4 l 52 r J PATENTEUUEE M5173 SHEET 1 UPS PATENTED 4 SHEET 3 OF 3 FIG? CENTRIFUGAL SELF-PRIMING PUMP This invention relates to pumps and more particularly to centrifugal, self-priming, impeller type pumps.

There has long been a need for a centrifugal, impeller type pump constructed to permit quick and easy access to interior parts of the pump. Prior pumps are notably deficient in providing convenient and accessable access openings and clean-out ports. Additionally, there is a dire need for a pump body constructed to permit quick and easy disassembly thereof enabling quick repair or replacement of all interior parts of the pump.

Therefore, it is an object of the invention to provide a centrifugal, self-priming impeller type pump constructed to permit quick and easy access to the interior parts of the pump.

A further object of the invention is to provide a pump of the above type having a pump body formed of two separate shell castings releasably secured together by a quick release type means.

A further object of the invention is to provide a pump of the above type having a top access opening enabling quick cleanout of the inlet eye of the impeller and enabling easy access to the pump inlet check valve and its seat for cleanout or repair thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide an impeller type pump having a replaceable wear plate disposed opposite the impeller.

A further object of the invention is to provide an impeller type pump constructed to permit easy and quick access to all interior pump parts without disconnecting the pump from its piping connections.

A further object is to provide a pump of the above type having a minimum of parts that may wear out.

A further object is to provide a pump of the above type that is simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture and highly effective in operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide an impeller type pump having a top hand hole cover for the impeller access port that may be manually secured over the access port without the use of tools.

Briefly, the foregoing objects are accomplished by the provision of a self-priming centrifugal pump including a pump body having a volute chamber and a fluid inlet port and a fluid outlet port in communication with the volute chamber. An impeller is operatively disposed in the volute chamber. Suitable drive means for driving the impeller is provided. The body is formed of two separate, coacting, matched, half shells releasably retained together. The body is annular in transverse section and the two matched coacting body shells are retained together by a retaining ring clamp releasably secured by a single bolt, whereby release of such bolt enables complete disassembly of the pump body for easy access to the impeller and associated interior pump parts.

The body half shells comprise a body assembly shell and a separate seal plate shell, with the pump inlet and outlet ports and the pump volute chamber being disposed in the body assembly shell.

The inlet port includes a check valve seat formed in the body assembly shell, and further includes a check valve disposed in operative relation with the check valve seat to retain fluid in the volute chamber, thereby effecting self-priming in coaction with the inlet port being disposed above the impeller centerline.

The body assembly shell has a top access opening formed in the top of such assembly shell and in communication with the check valve and impeller, thereby enabling facile repair of the check valve and its seat and enabling facile cleanout of the inlet eye of the impeller without disturbing associated piping connections to the pump.

The body assembly shell may have a wear plate formed therein opposite and spaced slightly from the impeller for receiving the main thrust of abrasive particles in the fluid being pumped. In a modification, the body assembly shell has a wear plate cavity disposed opposite the impeller, and further includes a separable wear plate detachably disposed in the cavity with a snug fit to enable facile replacement of the wear plate. The wear plate may be formed of rubber or of wear and abrasive resistant synthetic organic plastic.

The wear plate cavity includes spaced tab cavities oppositely disposed on the periphery of the wear plate cavity, and the wear plate has spaced tabs on its periphery for placement in the tab cavities, respectively, to provide a snug fit and to prevent rotation of the wear plate in the wear plate cavity during pump operation.

The top access opening is covered by a detachable cleanout cover, and the check valve is a gravity-type flap valve having a hinge rotatably held in operative position by the cleanout cover.

Thus, there is provided a centrifugal, impeller type pump providing quick and easy access to all interior parts including a replaceable impeller wear plate. The pump does not have to be disconnected from associated piping for cleanout or repairs.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description in conjunction with the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational sectional view of a selfpriming centrifugal pump constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective exploded view of the pump shown in FIG. 1 and showing the parts in position prior to assembly;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a modification of the body assembly shell shown in FIG. 2, and showing a wear plate in position prior to assembly therein;

FIG. 4 is a right side elevational view of the body as- The terms and expressions which are employed herein are used as terms of description, and not of limitation, and there is no intention in use of such terms and expressions of excluding any equivalents of the features shown or described, or portions thereof, but it is recognized that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention claimed.

In all of the drawings, like parts are identified by like numerals or symbols.

Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a centrifugal, self-priming, impeller type pump constructed inaccordance with the invention and including a pump body (annular in transverse section) formed of two separate, coacting matched half shells in the form of a assembly shell has a volute chamber 14 and a fluid (suction) inlet port 16 and a fluid outlet port 18 in communication with the volute chamber. An impeller 20 is operatively disposed in the volute chamber and may be rotated by any suitable drive means operatively secured to the drive shaft 22.

The shells 10 and 12 are releasably retained together by a suitable retaining means in the form of a retaining ring clamp 26 releasably secured by a single bolt 28, (FIG. 6), whereby release of such bolt enables complete disassembly of the pump body for easy access to the impeller and associated interior pump parts. Specifically, release of the clamp 26 enables the assembly shell 10 to be removed from the rest of the pump,-

thereby exposing all interior pump parts for easy access thereto. The ring clamp 26 is V-shaped in transverse section as shown in F IG. 7 to provide a secure clamping fit about the joint 30 between the shells 10 and 12. The joint 30 between the body assembly shell 10 and the seal plate shell 12 is a vertically disposed joint, thereby enabling facile disassembly of the pump body in coaction with the ring clamp 26.

The inlet port 16 and outlet port 18 and the volute chamber 14 are disposed in the pump body assembly shell 18, with the inlet port being disposed above the impeller centerline to effect self-priming.

The inlet port 16 includes a check valve seat 34 formed in the body assembly shell 10, and further includes a check valve 36 disposed in operative relation with the check valve seat to retain fluid in the volute chamber 14, thereby effecting self-priming in coaction with the inlet port being disposed above the impeller centerline as aforedescribed.

The body assembly shell 10 has a top access 40 opening formed in the top of the assembly shell and in communication with the check valve 36 and the impeller 20, thereby enabling easy repair of the check valve 36 and its seat 34 and enabling facile cleanout of the inlet eye of the impeller 20 without disturbing associated piping connections to the pump. The top access opening 40 is closed with a detachable cleanout cover 42 and said check valve is a gravity-type flap valve having a hinge rotatably held in operative position by said cleanout cover as best shown in FIG. 1. The cleanout cover 42 is retained in position by the retaining bracket 44 (FIG. 2), which is held in place by the bolt 46 and the hand-nut 48.

The body assembly shell 10 has a wear plate portion 52 disposed opposite and spaced slightly from the impeller 20 for receiving the main thrust of abrasive particles in the fluid being pumped.

In the modification shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, the body assembly shell 10a has a wear plate cavity 54 disposed opposite the impeller, and further includes a separable wear plate 56 detachably disposed in the cavity 54 with a snug fit to enable easy replacement of such wear plate. The wear plate 56 may be formed of rubber, of wear and abrasive resistant synthetic organic plastic, or of any other suitable wear resistant material.

In the preferred form, the wear plate cavity 54 includes spaced tab cavities 60, 62, oppositely disposed on the center aperture of the wear plate cavity, and the wear plate 56 has spaced tabs 64,66 on the periphery of the annular plate flange 68 for placement in said tab cavities, respectively, to provide a snug fit and to prevent rotation of the wear plate in the wear plate cavity during pump operation.

In assembly, (referring from left to right in FIG. 2), the body assembly shell 10 has positioned thereon the ring clamp 26, the O-ring 66, the impeller 20, ring 67, the seal plate shell 12, sleeve 68, seal 70, seal 71, seal gland 72, retained by the bolt 74. A pipe plug fits in the shell 12. Thence, the slinger ring 76, hearing cap.

77, oil seal 78, O-ring 79, bearing 80, bearing housing 81, shaft 22,,split ring 82, bearing 83, washer 84, seal and bearing gland 86.

Thus, the invention covers unique design features in a self-priming liquid-handling, centrifugal pump including a two-piece, vertically-split, circular-case body construction permitting use of V retainer-type fastener to couple the body halves, as well as permitting use of threaded fasteners (now required on irregularly shaped, present-day self-priming pumps).

An access door 42 at the top of the body permits the following:

a. Removal and replacement of the check valve gasket without disturbing the piping connections.

11. Access to the inlet eye of the impeller to clean out clogged material without the need for disassembling the plumbing connections or the pump body.

c. Constraint of the check valve hinge in six orthogenal directions, five of which are fixed by a cavity molded in the body and the sixth fixed by the access door when in the closed position, thereby eliminating need for separate fasteners for the check valve.

d. In the case of matched metal die molding of the pump components, check valve seat 34 can be integrally molded into the body without finish machin ing operations.

Suction and discharge pipe connections and volute are molded integrally within the front body 10 permitting removal of the rear body 12 impeller, and drive assembly from the installation without disassembling pipe connections.

Single piece and integral construction of the wear plate is provided with the following advantages:

a. Inexpensive and expedient renewal of all three primary wear parts wear plate, cutwater and impeller (the impeller itself being inherently replace able).

b. Manufacture of this piece out of material especially selected for wear and abrasion resistance; possible, but not necessarily, different than the rest of the pump.

A self-priming mechanism is provided incorporating the following features:

a. Venturi priming throat.

b. Provision to retain sufficient liquid in the body before or after operation, without the need for check valves, to accomplish a prime cycle; namely, by 10- cating the suction inlet center line sufficiently above the impeller center line to prevent the necessary charge of liquid from becoming depleted by draining out the suction line.

What is claimed is:

l. A self-priming centrifugal pump comprising; a

pump body having a volute chamber and a fluid inlet port and a fluid outlet port in communication with said volute chamber; an impeller operatively disposed in said volute chamber; drive means for driving said impeller; said body being formed of two separate, coactcess opening formed in the top of such assembly shell and in communication with said check valve and said impeller, thereby enabling facile repaid of the check valve and its seat and enabling facile cleanout of the inlet eye of the impeller without disturbing associated piping connections to the pump, said top access opening being closed with a detachable cleanout cover, and said coacting check valve is a gravity-type flap valve having a hinge rotatably held in operative position by said cleanout cover. 

1. A self-priming centrifugal pump comprising; a pump body having a volute chamber and a fluid inlet port and a fluid outlet port in communication with said volute chamber; an impeller operatively disposed in said volute chamber; drive means for driving said impeller; said body being formed of two separate, coacting, matched, half shells; and releasable retaining means for releasably securing said two half shells together, said inlet and outlet ports and the volute chamber being disposed in one of said body assembly shells, said inlet port being disposed above the impeller centerline to effect self-priming, said inlet port including a check valve seat formed in the body assembly shell, and further including a coacting check valve disposed in operative relation with the check valve seat to retain fluid in the volute chamber, thereby effecting self-priming, said one body assembly shell having a top access opening formed in the top of such assembly shell and in communication with said check valve and said impeller, thereby enabling facile repaid of the check valve and its seat and enabling facile cleanout of the inlet eye of the impeller without disturbing associated piping connections to the pump, said top access opening being closed with a detachable cleanout cover, and said coacting check valve is a gravity-type flap valve having a hinge rotatably held in operative position by said cleanout cover. 